Operating mechanism for washing-machines.



B. COOLING. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25,1914.

1,22'L58 L Patented May 29, 1917.

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ARTHUR B. COOLING, 0F STERLING, ILLINOIS.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 1917.

Application filed. September 25, 1914. Serial No. 863,449.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR B. COOLING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sterling, in the county of VVhiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating Mechanism for Washing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to mechanism for washing machines, and pertains more specially to that class of said machines wherein a tub is centrally located and given a reciprocating movement upon its axis. This movement results in an abrupt stop at the end of each stroke which is imparted with considerable severity to the operating devices, tending to cause an injury thereto. The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the jar consequent upon the reciprocating movement by means of novel devices whereby the shock: is absorbed or neutralized at each end of the stroke.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan-view of a machine equipped with my device. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line mm of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail of the yoke and sleeve mechanism. Fig. t is an enlarged detail, in section, of the shockabsorbing devices. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the tub supporting arms in connection with their supporting elements.

1 represents a portion of a washing machine frame, in which is fixed a cross-frame 2, mounted in which is a hub 3, pivotally supported by which is base plate 0 having rigidly secured thereto, a plurality of tubsupporting arms 4: that are yieldingly retained in radial relation to the spindle cl of said base plate a by coil springs 5 that are connected as at e to the outer ends of said arms 4: and as at f to a spider g which is loosely carried by said spindle and limited in its rotative action by the engagement of a lug 7L thereon with lugs as at 11 formed on the hub 3. Secured to one of the arms a is a support 6, to the outer end of which is pivotally connected one end of a frame 7, the opposite end of said frame being supported by a plate 8, pivoted thereto, and pivotally supported at its opposite end to the frame 1, as at at. Midway its ends the plate 8 is slidably supported on a bar 9, mounted in the frame of the machine.

Supported in the frame 7, so as to be longitudinally slidable therein, is a U-shaped box ng l0, fixed to the end bar of which is a pin 11, extending rearwardly through an opening in the end bar 12 of the frame 7.

Between the member 10 and bar 12 is an extensile coiled spring 13, and a similar spring 1% is interposed between the bar 12 and a washer 15, held on the end of the pin 11 by means of a nut 16.

At one side of the frame 1 is journaled a main drive shaft 17, provided at one end with a pulley 18, to which the power may be appliec. Fixed on the shaft 17 is a gear pinion l9, engaging a gearwvheel 20, fixed on a shaft 21, rotatably mounted in the frame. On the inner end of the shaft 21 is loosely mounted a sleeve 22, on the outer end of which is a crank-wheel 23, to which is connected one end of a pitman 2a, the other end thereof being pivoted to a swivel-block 25,'pivotally connected with the slide-piece 10, so as to swing in a horizontal plane. Fixed in the shaft 21 is a pin 26 adapted to engage a pair of recesses 27 in the sleeve 22, and encircling said sleeve is a yoke 28, having at one end a projection 29 pivoted to a support 30 depending from the frame 2, and at the opposite end an arm 31 connected by means of a rod 32 with one end of a handlever 33, pivoted in the frame of the machine, as at Z). The yoke 28 is provided interiorly with lugs 34 which engage an annular recess 35 in the sleeve 22. By the op eration of the hand-lever 33 said sleeve is moved upon the shaft 21 until it is engaged by the pin 26, whereupon the movement of the shaft is imparted to said sleeve, causing the rotation thereof,.and a consequent reciprocating movement of the pitman 2 1. This movement is thereupon first communicated to the member 10, and then to the frame 7, causing a partial rotation of the arms l upon their axis. Upon the return movement of the pitman a similar operation of the arms is produced, in a contrary direction.

The action of the springs 5 in gradually retarding the momentum of the load supported on the arms 1, is well known, but at the end of each movement of the tub devices there is a brief period of inaction, or rest, against which the pitman has to operate, in beginning the movement in the reverse direction. For instance, if the pitman 24 were connected directly with the arms 6 at the the pitman such pitman is permitted to op crate at the beginning of each stroke independently of the tub devices, the boxmg 10 being permitted a slight movement in each direction before it acts upon the frame 7 and arms l, through the arm (3. The springs 5 not only have a shocl -absorbing effect, but they also provide stored-power means for aiding in the return movement of the arms 4L and load mounted thereon, at each end of the stroke, or reciprocating movement of such arms. The action of the springs 5 is coincident with that of the springs 13 and 1 1:, so that when the movement of the pitman 24 begins to be imparted to the arm 6, the arms i are alreat y well started on their return movement. All shock or ar between the tub devices and the operating mechanism is thereby eliminated.

The action of the springs 13 and 14 is also employed in the opposite direction, to pre Vent the action of the gearing from being too suddenly imparted to the tub mechanism.

What I claim as my invention, and desi e to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

A device of the class described, comprising a main frame; operative mechanism mounted therein so as to oscillate; a U- shaped frame supported from said firstnamed frame so as to be capable of oscillation, and pivot-ally connected with said 0perative mechanism; a block slidable in said U-shaped frame; a pin secured to said block and projected through the end of said frame; a compression spring on said pin, between said frame and block, to yieldingly resist the movement of said parts toward each other; a compression spring on said pin outside of said frame to yieldingly resist the movement of said block and frame away from each other; a drive-shaft mounted in said main frame and provided at one of its ends with a c ank-head; and a pitman connected at one of its ends with said crankhead, and at the opposite end swivelly connected with said slide-block.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

ARTHUR B. COOLING.

Witnesses W. N. HAsKnLL, W. H. PERRY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. r 

